Lone Star created their own molds based on the Futuristic Products Strato Gun. The three round details on the gun are their own contribution. Featured in trade catalogs for 1954. Introduced in the Eagle 6:27 in July 1955.

Described as a Water Jet Repeater. Also available in other colors: purple

DAN DARE ATOMIC JET GUN - DCMT - ENGLANDThere are two versions of this space water gun, both sharing the same box.

First Version (top)
Red diecast metal space water gun. The gun is a re-packaged ATOMIC JET GUN by DCMT which in turn is a reworking of the original Hiller design. The simple addition of a Dan Dare decal to the top is the only change. Dan Dare was depicted using this version of the gun in the Eagle Comic.

Second Version (bottom)
This is a substantial redesign using hard plastic components. Large DAN DARE wording printed on the top. There is a black rubber plug at the back of the reservoir.
The Atomic Jet wording is still present on the sides of the gun. The barrel position has been moved lower and is now part of the trigger. The gun's trigger has been redesigned: it is now yellow plastic and has an additional rod to improve the robustness of the action.

The gun was first announced in the Eagle comic in August 1952. DCMT also traded as Crescent Toys.

DAN DARE COSMIC RAY GUN - PALITOY - ENGLANDRed plastic space gun with flashlight operation. The gun has a large chrome plastic lens housing at the fron and a long telescopic sight. Three color filters can be adjusted to alter the beam. Battery operated. A secret compartment is located in the handle. There is also a yellow version. The box insert draws attention to a number of rather fanciful features. This gun has been widely copied in a variety of guises.

On sale in Late 1953.

DAN DARE PLANET GUN - MERIT - ENGLANDThe original Dan Dare 1950s (and well into the 60s) issue of the small plastic space gun with three spinners. Green and red versions with black plastic spring assemblies. The guns carry the Planet Gun wording and the Dan Dare name and logo ( a circle with a vertical oval inside). The guns have distinctive side bumps suggesting fins. This version has a small rear fin, smooth handle and concave trigger. Based on the US Plastic design.

Merit was the trading name of J & L Randall.

DAN DARE RADIO STATION - MERIT - ENGLANDBased on the Remco Radio Station. This is a large plastic battery-operated radio station with large towers on either side. A working searchlight sits between them. In the center is a meter with moving needle and on either side are dials. Morse buzzer at the bottom right, and notepad on the left.

The set came with two electrically operated walkie talky handsets, Black and red versions of the handsets are known. Remco QX-2 design with three additional decorative buttons.

Two box versions are known. The earlier (top) is closer to the Remco original. The later (bottom) version uses brighter colors. This well-packed toy survives in large numbers.

There are two known boxes. The more common box is predominantly red/yellow. The second is box is predominantly blue. It depicts Dan Dare in RAF uniform on one side and in a spacesuit on the other. It is possible that this is the box for the Australian release.

This is the first the Dan Dare space guns. It was announced in the 1st August 1951 issue of "The Eagle". Available exclusively from Marks and Spencer. The gun rapidly sold out. Also featured in the 1953 Mettoy catalog (bottom)

Based on the US Plastic Space Patrol Rocket Dart Gun. Introduced in the Eagle 3:35 in December 1952, available exclusively from Marks & Spencer.

Merit was the trading name of J & L Randall.

DAN DARE ROTO - METTOY - ENGLANDGame based on a plastic spinner launching toy. Pulling a string attached to the hand set launched the large plastic spinner. The set included targets.

Item No 8125 in the 1955 Mettoy catalogue. Sold on a header card. Photo?

There were two versions of this toy.

Still on sale in Hamley's in 1960.

DAN DARE SPACE GUN - LONE STAR DCMT - ENGLANDMetal diecast gun, spray pain finish. Cap firing action. The mold was used by Lone Star for a wide range of TV based space guns. The red version is associated with the 1950s box and has Dan Dare molded into the gun. Featured in trade catalogs for 1954 eg "Playthings and Hobbies 1954-55". Introduced in the Eagle 6:27 in July 1955. This is the first appearance of this much copied diecast gun.

The metallic blue version has a Dan Dare decal. The date of the blue version, and the box it came in are not yet established.

Though the plane does not have Dan Dare wording Space Patrol is printed on the wings. The litho in the cockpit depicts characters clearly intended to be Dan Dare in RAF uniform. Box. Maker not established but likely to be Wells Brimtoy or possibly Mettoy. 35cm. Date? Box?

DAN DARE WALKIE-TALKIE SET - MERIT - ENGLANDMerit England, plastic electronic walkie talkie set. Black and red plastic handsets with three function buttons. The devices are claimed to work using "magnetic power" not batteries. Set No Set No 3100. Red versions with black trim are also known, but are less common. A Morse code card was also included.

SPACE PROJECTOR WITH DAN DARE FILM - MERIT - ENGLANDBattery powered silver plastic space gun projects a 33 frame Dan Dare film strip. The unusual film strip projector gun. Merit had earlier produced 16mm filmstrips of Dan Dare and other Eagle characters. This was a new way of exploiting their strips. projection projector.